Very quietly, a major change is taking place that will have if all goes as planned major implications for the computer business.

To understand what is happening, one has to go back to almost the beginning of the computer revolution in the seventies when Microsoft came on the scene and started charging for the software which was always considered up to that time “freeware” and available free of charge to black box users of the day.

IBM, at the time, played into the hands of Microsoft by farming out responsibility for its operating system and all the rest was history. Microsoft continued to build its franchise making it virtually impossible for competitors to land a foothold. Many thought that Microsoft’s expertise was more in marketing than it was in innovative products and that the industry was being held back by Microsoft’s domination of the business.

Nontheless, Microsoft has come out unscathed from competitive litigation claiming an unfair advantage and monopolistic hold on the industry.

Microsoft has been a deft competitor who packaged multiple programs in with its expensive software inveighing against equal competition and virtually gaining the upper hand in extending the reach of add-on products that resulted from “bundling.”

But now IBM may be turning back the hands of time and as most will agree, it is a welcome idea..

It has joined forces with OpenOffice.org, a consortium of computer makers and software designers who are committed to open-source strategies.

IBM reminds us that their participation was responsible for giving Linux the push it needed before.

But now IBM is jumping in with products and software to support their commitment to open-source which may have a profound impact on Microsoft’s strangle hold on the marketplace. IBM is also joining with Google which supports an open-source type of architecture.

What IBM will offer is its Lotus Symphony which will compete directly with Microsoft’s Word, Excel and Powerpoint. IBM is already competiting with Microsoft on email, messaging and work group collaborations. Some may remember IBM’s failed attempt to market OS/2 Operating System and Smart Suite. But, today, IBM is convinced of the rightness of its position, the timing, and the power of its products to seize market share in the battle to come.

Les Aaron

The Committee for Positive Change

LAAGroup@aol.com

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About Me

A few things that drive me: Fair Play and representation of the smaller guy who tends to get beat up by the system.
In representing the small guy's interest in good, clean government, government that is fair to the governed--the way the Founding Fathers saw it, I like to give it back to the bullies in spades.
the guys who always complain about "our Values" those self professed arbiters of what's right and what's wrong; those guys who wave the flag and never served because they were too busy! Those Crusaders who are ready for Armegeddon!...and don't care who they sacrifice on the way!...And when I'm doing this, I also like to introduce a little levity, tweak their noses, yank their chains, inject some sarcasm and, hopefully, a little wit that flies over their heads. If you came around for the truth, good for you. If you came around the truth and the ability to give it back to the Right Wing lunatics, so much the better. With a media that's copped out, a Congress that is compliant, a government that is never mindful of those it governs, it is time for people like you and me to take back our country!